Kerry McAlpine gets her chair: thousands raised in a matter of months for Long Lawford woman

Published:08:00Sunday 09 September 2012

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AFTER months of being housebound, an overwhelmed Kerry McAlpine finally feels like a mum again after receiving a specialist wheelchair.

Her friends and family - and strangers - have been raising £20,000 for Kerry’s Wheelchair Fund on behalf the Long Lawford mum of two, who suffers from a condition of the spine and nerves called arachnoiditis, for which there is no cure. Thanks to their hard work, and the generosity of Rugbeians, she has now received the specialist chair.

Kerry said: “I still can’t quite believe it. It’s had me in tears even doing the simple things like walking the dog with my children and being able to go around a supermarket.

“I’ve only had the chair for a short time but it’s made such a huge difference to my life that words cannot describe it. I finally feel like a proper mum again.”

She added: “The support I’ve had and people’s generosity has been overwhelming. Throughout the past year people’s kindness has left me speechless.”

There have been many fundraising events and donations for Kerry in the past year, including Rugby’s annual pancake race and her partner Craig’s participation in the gruelling Commando Challenge.

He said: “Not only has the chair had an obvious impact on her physically, it’s changed her whole outlook on life too. It’s the little things that make all the difference - one thing we’re all looking forward to is a family trip to the cinema, for example.

“It’s the things like being able to pick her own items off the supermarket shelf that have made the world of difference to our quality of life.”

He added: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has worked hard to help us achieve our fundraising goal. We set a goal of £20,000 a year ago and never thought we would be able to achieve it in a year.